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When is Songkran 2017?

In Bangkok, Songkran is celebrated as a national holiday from April 13 to 15 this year. But as April 13 falls on a Thursday, celebrations are likely to continue until the weekend.

In other parts of Thailand, especially in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Songkran is celebrated for as long as a week. Local versions of Songkran are also observed in Cambodia, Laos, Burma and amongst ethnic minorities in Yunnan, southern China and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India.

Songkran, or Thai New Year, is a Buddhist festival and the kingdom’s most important public holiday. The word Songkran is derived from Sanskrit and means "Astrological Passage". Traditionally, the dates for the festival were set by Brahmin priests, but these days the dates are fixed.

Elephants spraying water at tourists on the streetCredit:
REUTERS/CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM

Songkran marks the end of the dry season – April is Thailand’s hottest month – and the beginning of the annual rains in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year. Many Thais visit their local temple to pray and to wash their Buddha icons. Buddhist statues on house shrines are also cleaned. This cleansing ritual is to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year.

In northern Thailand, Buddhists bring small bags of sand to the temple, returning the dust they have carried away in the past year on their bare feet. This sand is then sculpted into small stupas and decorated with flags in honour of the Buddha.

As Songkran is also the longest public holiday in Thailand, it’s an opportunity for up-country people to return home from Bangkok, and the Thai capital is remarkably quiet during the holidays, its infamously chaotic traffic calmed for a few days.

"Foreign visitors to Thailand have but one option during Songkran – embrace, embrace, embrace"Credit:
RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Nowadays, the throwing of water is the festival’s highlight. In fact, for three days virtually the entire country turns into a celebratory war zone. Children with huge water guns roam the streets or sit in the back of their parents’ pick-up trucks, which are loaded with buckets of water that is dispensed on anyone who happens to be within reach.

As Thailand continues to mourn the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October 2016, some events have been cancelled and Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has admonished revellers to behave respectfully and refrain from drinking in certain parts of the city.

White talc is also thrown in copious amounts and the city’s streets soon resemble the aftermath of a snow storm. The only down side to the exuberant festivities is the vast number of fatal traffic accidents caused by drunken drivers – more than 442 during the week-long celebration in 2016, the highest number on record.

"Khao San Road, Bangkok’s backpacker ghetto, is the place to be for all-out street fights with thousands of Thais and foreigners armed with water guns" Credit:
4CORNERS

How to celebrate the Thai New Year

Foreign visitors to Thailand have but one option during Songkran – embrace, embrace, embrace. Tourists are special targets during the festivities and young Thais will make an extra effort to pour ice cold water down the back of your shirt if they see you pass by.

Khao San Road, Bangkok’s backpacker ghetto, is the place to be for all-out street fights with thousands of Thais and foreigners armed with water guns and cans of beer, battling both the heat and each other.

This year, concerts and loud music have been banned. It is unclear how enforced the suppression of what the military government and the city authorities deem as immoral or inappropriate will be, but as the junta has sweeping powers to arrest citizens for a wide variety of crimes and infractions, caution is advised.

What to wear for Songkran

As it’s hot, and clothes are likely to get ruined by sustained water and talc attacks, it’s advisable to wear as little as possible and to leave precious items of clothing in one’s luggage.

Still, near-nudity is frowned upon and the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has called on visitors to refrain from wearing too-revealing clothing and using powder to smear passers-by. One should also keep one’s camera fully clothed – without waterproof housing, it’s likely to fall victim to the watery shenanigans.

Where to go to see Songkran

There are both government-organised and unofficial events taking placeCredit:
AFP or licensors/CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Benjasiri Park: Official government sponsored celebrations kick off on April 8 in the shadow of the Emporium shopping centre on Sukhumvit Road with stages and stalls presenting traditional customs, music and food, to introduce visitors to the festival’s spiritual side. The festivities continue daily from 12pm to 8pm.

Sukhumvit Road: The government sponsored Amazing Songkran Joyful parades will run along Sukhumvit Road between Phrom Phong and MBK shopping centre between 5.30pm and 8.30pm to showcase Thailand’s cultural diversity.

Songkran Wisutkasat: Get soaked at Wisutkasat (Bang Khun Phrom intersection) or watch a traditional beauty contest, under the Rama 8 bridge, April 13-15.

Banglamphu: Join Bangkok’s young people in traditional Thai attire and enjoy merit making and cultural performances at Suan Santi Chaiprakarn, Phra Athit Road, April 12-13.

A boutique hotel in Chiang Mai

Lan Khon Mueang: Merit making and fun in front of Bangkok City Hall, April 12-15.

Songkran Lanna "Prapeni Pi Mai Mueang", Chiang Mai: Join the parade and pour water on the prominent Buddha statue "Phra Phuttha Sihing" or bring sand to the temple, April 12-17. Or join exuberant water fights around town between 13th and 15th of April.

Pleasant Songkran, Thai-Lao New Year, Nakhon Phanom: the joint Thai-Lao Songkran festival showcases the cultures of seven different ethnic groups in Nakhon Phanom province. Join in merit-making by offering sticky rice to the monks next to Kankrao market, April 13-15.

Songkran in Renu District, Nakhon Phanom: watch the traditional dance called "Ram Phu Tai" and the "Bai Sri" ceremony, where locals welcome visitors by tying a small string on their wrists, April 13-15.

Thailand-Laos Friendship Songkran, Nong Khai: get a sense of history at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, water the Luang Por Phra Sai - the highly-revered Buddha image of the Nong Khai people - and experience a merit-making ceremony at Wat Pho Chai, Nong Prachak Road, April 5-18.

Phuket

Khao Nieo Road, Khon Kaen: enjoy Songkran in the Khon Kaen-style with traditional ceremonies, merit-making and three days of fun, April 5-15.

South

In Hua Hin, sand sculptures can be admired around the Beach House Retreat, April 13-15.

The Arun Residence offers large rooms, a romantic riverside restaurant and accommodating staff, near to the Grand Palace and the Chao Praya river. Double rooms from £63 per night. Read the full review here

Hotel Muse is a boutique hotel with big rooms, good cocktails and a funky rooftop bar, close to Lumpini Park and Chitlom mall. Double rooms from £102 per night.

Flights to Bangkok

International flights arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (00 66 2 7230000, suvarnabhumiairport.com), about 20 miles to the east of the city. The old airport, Don Muang, about 12 miles north of Bangkok, handles many domestic flights.

Skyscanner (skyscanner.net) has direct return flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok for £420 with China Southern, £452 with Swiss Air and £845 with Thai Airways.